Background: Nematodes represent a continuous worldwide challenge with formidable burden on health and economics.
Objective: The study aimed to assess the prevalence of nematodes parasitosis (NP) among pregnant women and its
relation to the pregnancy-associated complications (PACs).
Patients and Methods: In the current study 792 pregnant women were clinically evaluated and gave blood samples and
three stool specimens per woman for parasitological evaluation. All women attended the follow-up visits and gave labor
at the hospital. The frequency of PACs was determined and its relation to NP was examined statistically.
Results: Multiple nematode species were detected in 185 specimens with A. lumbricoides, E. vermicularis, and T.
trichiura represented 76.2% of the detected parasites in varied combinations, while T. spiralis was the least and was
detected using human anti-trichinella spiralis IgG ELISA kit. The incidence of PACs was significantly higher among
infected women with anemia was the commonest. The frequency of low hemoglobin concentration (HBC) was
significantly higher, the average HBC was significantly lower, and the frequency of moderate and severe anemia was
significantly higher among the infected women. The number of women who had instrumentally aided vaginal delivery
or operative delivery was significantly higher among infected women.
Conclusion: Nematode parasitosis is an ecological problem and is frequent among pregnant women especially those
dependent on outdoor food staffs. Multiple-families NP is significant predictor for upcoming PACs. NP in obese
pregnant women especially older ones has more deleterious impact on pregnancy |
